I am rather infamous for visiting online boutiques I've never heard of before and trusting them enough to purchase something there. I suppose I'm lucky in that I've never suffered any negative consequences. I have a good feel for what's good and what's bad--what's quality and what isn't.
Perhaps I'm bragging. ;) But the fact is, I am very good at estimating what size I'd be even though I'm not able to try the item on; I somehow know this without understanding how I know it.
Jewelry is more difficult because quality is difficult to assess. Unless you are buying from a known manufacturer or designer, you have to go by the stock photo and the description of the item to determine whether the purchase is worth the risk. There are plenty of relatively unknown jewelry merchants online that I'd like to take a chance on - but don't have an opportunity to because, well, I don't have the money to risk it.
I did end up getting a necklace from one website,
LuShae Jewelry. It features a cluster of flowers, each containing a tiny CZ stone.
JewelryArtDesigns.com (PHOTOGRAPHY MY OWN)This greatly added to my jewelry collection because, honestly, I have no feminine necklaces - this is something I could actually wear to a formal affair. As opposed to the hummingbird skull, glass dragon's tear, and ceramic owl pendants I keep on my necklace tree. Not to mention the enormous collection of serpent jewelry I possess. This piece is milder (in color, too) but well wrought. The chain is of good quality, as is the bouquet, which is coated with 14k gold, rose gold, and rhodium bonded white gold.
Also, I ended up liking the jewelry box immensely. I know that sounds silly, but it's awesome. It is so crisp, it looks like the edges were cut with a laser. And I am all for expensive-looking boxes. I mean, nobody wants to be presented with their engagement ring in a JCPenney cardboard box, you know? But I just like fancy boxes for things in general. It shows that a decent amount of money went into each stage of production.
JewelryArtDesigns.com (PHOTOGRAPHY MY OWN)As for the rest of the website, I pass a positive verdict. I think the promise rings are pretty easy on the eyes--better than most rings on the market these days. The
earrings section had a few winners, including the
Once Upon A Star earrings. But I just got my ears pierced (!), so I'll have to wait before buying anything ear-related.
The Pendants section is up and down. There are some
creative and
unusual color/stone combinations, but there are also a few tacky designs, such as the
Pave Piggy Pendant. In conclusion, I liked my choice, but it's likely that each person would pick a different piece since this collection varies significantly in style from piece to piece.
